Chapter 11: Baiting Out the Gold Finger

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Baiting Out the Gold Finger

"System, you aren’t actually a system produced by the game’s officials, are you? Let me guess... you’re the one bound to me, and you devoured the official system."

The panel flickered before her eyes, its panicked reaction almost comical.

"If I reported you to the game officials, would they take you away?"

The system went silent. It didn’t even provide descriptions for the materials she was picking up anymore.

In a leafy bush, there was a goji plant laden with fruit. Without a description, she was afraid the item might be poisonous and didn’t dare to pick it recklessly.

She gathered all the dry branches nearby, her tone growing more helpless.

"Look, I don’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to apologize for throwing that rock at you earlier. It’s all thanks to you that my leg is better. You must have used up a lot of energy to help me, right?

I’ve been wanting to thank you, but I’m just not very good with words.

That’s why even when you lied to me about there being no typhoon on the island, almost getting me blown away, and secretly blocked the luck boost and beginner’s protection from the officials, I didn’t say a word.

See? You’ve screwed me over so many times and I still haven’t reported you. Doesn’t that prove I’m a good host?

How do you get your energy?

In novels, a system’s energy is always closely tied to its bound host. Do you need me to upgrade the shelter as soon as possible? If you need it, I’ll upgrade the shelter to the max even if it means I have to starve myself."

In a daze, Shi Zhile thought she heard a sob.

Recalling the two times she’d heard its arrogant huffs, she became even more certain that this was the system’s voice.

’This system is that gullible? I actually managed to bait it out.’

She wasn’t a talkative person. If it had remained silent, she most likely would have just shut up.

She covered her mouth with one hand, afraid her grin was becoming too obvious.

"Since you’re bound to me, you should know my past. I became a cripple trying to save someone, only to have them turn around and blame me for it. That’s what caused me to become so withdrawn.

I’m slow to warm up to people, and after being paralyzed for so long, I didn’t want to live anymore.

It doesn’t matter if I die, but once I’m dead, you’ll be left without a host. I’m afraid you’ll be exposed.

Can you leave the game? Will the officials erase you?"

Obviously, it couldn’t leave the game! And it might even be erased.

If it wasn’t at risk of being erased, it wouldn’t have bothered imitating the official system.

"This godforsaken island doesn’t even have any other living creatures. We only have each other to depend on. If we keep fighting amongst ourselves, life will be impossible. Don’t you agree?"

[SOB SOB— You’re so right.]

The mechanical voice was still cold, but its intonation fluctuated wildly.

’This just goes to show how gullible the system is!’

[Wish System binding... Binding to Host Shi Zhile... Binding successful!]

In that instant, a virtual panel appeared before Shi Zhile. This one was larger and more detailed.

She froze for a second, swallowing the string of curses on the tip of her tongue.

No wonder the panel could appear and disappear on its own. Turns out this damn system was holding a grudge and hadn’t even properly bound to her yet.

At the same time, she became even more certain that it had devoured the system given by the officials.

"The Wish System?"

[To ensure the system’s safety, wishes granted by the Wish System will be delivered to the host in the form of a Wish Drifting Bottle. You will receive one (1) Wish Drifting Bottle per day, which can be used to make one reasonable wish.]

"What’s a ’reasonable’ wish?"

[A reasonable wish is one that can be fulfilled within the game. The system’s energy is currently low. Please upgrade the shelter as soon as possible.]

Shi Zhile wanted to squeeze more materials and wishes out of it. After a moment of thought, she said:

"So your energy was low, and that’s why you devoured the system the officials gave me? You didn’t even get an upgrade, and you still can’t grant all my wishes?"

[...]

"And your energy was *still* low after devouring it, so you stole my luck boost and beginner’s protection?"

[I didn’t steal them! It was a rational use of resources!]

"Ration—"

[System entering hibernation!]

Shi Zhile: ...Heh!

’So it did steal my luck. What a bastard!’

"Without luck, I’m more likely to run into monsters and I won’t be able to find any materials."

[Hibernation does not require energy.]

Translated, that meant: it would stop stealing her luck, but it was switching to autopilot.

"The number of wishes is too low. Add a few more."

[System entering hibernation!]

’Damn thing!’

With the major threat playing dead, Shi Zhile turned back to look at the goji plant.

[Irritable Goji Plant: Extremely high attack power. A living creature of the deserted island. Can acknowledge a master. Has medicinal properties: clears heat and detoxifies, boosts immunity... etc.

(I need sunlight. If I don’t get sunlight, I’ll die just to spite you!)]

’Another high-maintenance one!’

But it was medicinal, and it could acknowledge a master!

Shi Zhile used her axe to clear away the surrounding bush and transplanted the entire goji plant, soil and all, into her backpack.

The remaining bush couldn’t be wasted either. The leaves could be dried for tinder, and the branches could be used to weave baskets and fish traps.

She chopped down both clumps of bushes at the roots with her axe, tied them into a bundle, and took them with her.

With one slot left in her backpack, Shi Zhile decided to check out the swamp.

Heading west, she found a large swamp at the edge of the forest. The soil at its border was damp and overgrown with lush reeds.

Passing through reeds that were taller than a person, she found several pools of foul-smelling water.

The water was covered with a dense layer of various algae. If one were to illuminate it with a torch at night, they would surely mistake it for a patch of grassland.

The ground beneath her feet was springy. Stomping on it repeatedly made it softer. Shi Zhile stomped twice, and seeing the soil become increasingly damp, she moved to the edge to observe.

[Swamp Soil: Rich in various minerals. Promotes the decomposition of organic matter. Can improve soil environment. When combined with plantable soil, it allows any plant to be grown and doubles the harvest yield.

(Soft on the outside, strong on the inside. Stand still, and I can devour any plant or animal. Guaranteed death!)]

Shi Zhile decisively moved to a different spot.

She collected some of the swamp soil, and looking at the green reed leaves and stalks, she decided to chop some down to take with her.

It was already noon by the time she returned to the shelter. After planting the goji plant next to the coconut tree, she checked the panel again. The chat channel was still full of messages from people showing off their seafood and asking for materials.

The underwater monsters hadn’t attacked players or come ashore, which further suggested they had some kind of restriction.

The usable resources on the island were limited. To survive, she had to go out to sea.

Her raft was too severely damaged. Even if she repaired it, it would just break apart again in strong winds and high waves.

’It would be great if I could just build a new raft.’

The panel popped up automatically:

[Build 4-Square-Meter Raft: Wood x10, Iron Nails x5. Build?]

"Build!"

[Build Successful]

A brand-new raft appeared before her. She took out the old raft and headed toward the sea with the new one.

Just before leaving, she washed her wound again with spring water.

The raft hit the water. Shi Zhile jumped on. Before she could enter the deep sea area, a private message popped up in the background.

[Zhong Qiang: Can I trade fish oil for your rocks? Take a look at the item description first.]

[Deep Sea Fish Oil: Rich in nutrients required by the body. Edible. Can be used for lighting. The best choice for illumination while sailing.]

Shi Zhile didn’t lack flames for lighting, but she did lack cooking oil. Whether for eating or for storage, it was necessary to have some on hand.

[Contentment Brings Happiness: What’s the trade?]

The other party didn’t reply, so she went to check her other private messages.